Thursday, April 18, 2002
Berkman strikes again
By Terry Kinney
The Associated Press Writer
Lance Berkman doesn't want the home run to be his only weapon.
“Right now I'm in a streak of them,” said Berkman, whose two-run drive, his fourth home run in two days at Cinergy Field, helped the Astros to a 7-2 victory over the Reds on Wednesday night.
“I like to play fundamentally sound baseball, and I didn't do that in my last at-bat.”
The bases were loaded for Berkman in the seventh, but lefty reliever Gabe White got him to foul out. It was his first right-handed at-bat of the game, and he was a little too eager.
“I didn't even make the guy throw me a strike,” Berkman said.
He was relieved that Richard Hidalgo followed him with a two-run single that gave Houston a 7-2 lead.
All four homers by the switch-hitter came left-handed. Two shots Tuesday night were opposite-field homers to left and one was to straightaway center. He pulled Wednesday night's drive to right field.
He's tied with Barry Bonds for the major-league home run lead.
Although Berkman is 2-of-6 hitting right-handed — and both hits were homers — he is far more comfortable left-handed because he's mostly been facing right-handed pitching.
Berkman, who drove in eight runs over the two games, became the seventh Astros player to homer four times in a two-game span. The last was Vinny Castilla, who did it last July 27-28 at Pittsburgh.
“He's a good hitter. He just happens to have power,” said Houston manager Jimy Williams.
Cincinnati starter Jimmy Haynes (1-2) created problems for himself right away. He hit leadoff batter Craig Biggio, who later scored on a sacrifice fly by Berkman. Daryle Ward doubled in two more runs in the inning to make it 3-0.
Haynes retired nine in a row in one stretch, until Jeff Bagwell doubled with two out in the fifth and Berkman's homer made it 5-2. Haynes allowed five hits and two walks and struck out four in five innings.
“The pitch I wanted back was the one to Berkman,” Haynes said. “It was a splitter. I was trying to bounce it, but it stayed up. You can't make mistakes to a hitter in a zone like Berkman is now.
“They had a righty on deck, and we didn't want to pitch to Berkman. It just stayed up on me, and he didn't miss it.”
Houston starter Carlos Hernandez (1-0) had things well in hand through three, walking two but holding the Reds hitless. Then he gave up two runs in the fourth on an RBI single by Austin Kearns, in his second major league at-bat, and a ground out by Todd Walker.
Hernandez allowed four hits, two walks and struck out three in 5 1-3 innings.
Berkman, who slipped in the outfield making a catch in the bottom of the sixth, left the game with a sore left knee after batting in the seventh. He said he expected to play in the series finale Thursday.
NOTES: Houston RHP Wade Miller went to Dr. Andrew Dossett in Dallas for another opinion on his neck injury. Miller was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday, retroactive to April 13, after a preliminary diagnosis revealed a pinched nerve. An MRI exam Monday showed some slight compression, but was inconclusive. ... Adam Everett stole second in the seventh inning, the Astros' first stolen base in eight games. ... RHP Tim Redding is expected to be recalled Saturday from Triple-A New Orleans and start against San Francisco. ... The crowd of 14,527 was the smallest at Cinergy Field since the Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks drew 13,943 on May 3, 1999.
Reds Stories
Bengals take CB Buchanon in Enquirer's mock draft
Bengals could fill several needs in draft
Dilger's deal with Bucs doesn't affect draft
Rackers trial set for June 10
Ex-Bengals bash Cincinnati
Local golfers find bargain prices
PGA pros offer free lessons
Golf tip: Use wedge from collar
Jasontek back in sync for big meet
Phenix named conference swimmer of year
Coming up this week
Memphis' Wagner to enter NBA draft
Cincinnati high school highlights
Cincinnati high school results
N.Ky. high school results
Coaches' lessons cover race issues
James wins Gatorade basketball honor
• Return to Reds front page...
Berkman strikes again
